Ben Graham life and biography

Ben Graham is a former professional Australian rules footballer turned professional American football punter for the Arizona Cardinals.

Pro Career:
Originally entered the NFL with the NY Jets as a 31-year old rookie in 2005 after playing 12 years in Australia with the Geelong Football Club (G.F.C.) where he played in 219 games from 1993-2004. Signed by the Jets as a free agent on 1/12/05 and played three full seasons. Waived by the Jets on 9/17/08 and re-signed on 9/22/08 before being waived again on 9/29/08. He was signed by the Saints on 10/20/08 and punted for the team when they faced the Chargers in London. Released by the Saints on 10/28/08 and signed by the Cardinals as a free agent on 12/1/08. Signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals on 3/2/09.

2009:
Recorded career-highs in average yards per punt (47.0), net average (40.6), and punts landed inside the 20-yard line (42) … selected as an alternate for the Pro Bowl … in the season opener registered a career-high 54.7-yard average on six punts while landing his longest punt of the day, 64 yards, on the 49ers two-yard line with under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter vs. SF (9/13) … landed four of a season-high eight punts inside the 20-yard line @ NYG (10/25) … averaged 52.0 yards (43.4 net) on seven punts with three landing inside the 20-yard line (two inside the 10) vs. Sea (11/15); tied a season long with a 64-yard punt … recorded a season-best net punting average of 48.0 yards and tied a franchise record (Scott Player, 5 of 7 punts, 10/20/02 vs. Dallas) by landing a career-high five of six punts inside the 20-yard line, including three inside the 5-yard line @ Ten (11/29) … averaged 43.8 yards (41.5 net avg.) on four punts and landed two inside the 20-yard line @ SF (12/14); surpassed the franchise record of 33 punts landed inside the 20-yard line, established by Jeff Feagles in 1994 … recorded four punts of at least 52 yards (64, 52, 57, 57) to help total 352 yards on seven punts (50.3 avg.) with three landing inside the 20-yard line and a net average of 45.4 yards per punt @ Det (12/20); named “NFC Special Teams Player of the Week” for his performance; marked first career selection as Player of the Week and was just the second punter in team history to be honored (Jeff Feagles, 1995) … forced his first career fumble vs. StL (12/27), stripping Danny Amendola of the ball on a punt return in the third quarter … landed three of four punts inside the 20-yard line in the regular season finale vs. GB (1/3/10), to tie the NFL single season record of 42 punts landed inside the 20-yard line (Andy Lee, 2007) … only punt in the Wild Card matchup came early in the fourth quarter vs. GB (1/10/10) … tied postseason-highs by averaging 43.5 yards on six punts @ NO (1/16/10); including the postseason he landed 54 of his last 113 punts (47.8%) inside the 20-yard line and had a streak of 79 consecutive punts without allowing a touchback (span of 15 games), landing 37 punts inside the 20-yard line during that span.

2008:
Punted 14 times for 606 yards with a gross average of 43.3 and a net average of 36.1 for the Jets … waived by the Jets on 9/17 before being re-signed on 9/22 … was again waived by the Jets on 9/28 and signed with New Orleans on 10/20 … was the Saints punter for the New Orleans-San Diego game on 10/26 in London, England … released by the Saints on 10/28 and signed by the Cardinals on 12/1 … handled punting duties for the final four games of the regular season and for all four postseason contests for Arizona ... in first game as a Cardinal, recorded a 42.0-yard average while landing two of his three punts inside the 20-yard line vs. StL (12/7) ... registered a season best 45.5-yard average on six punts and a season long of 59 yards that went out of bounds at the Minnesota one yard-line vs. Min (12/14) ... in second career playoff game, set postseason career-highs with six punts for an average of 39.8 yards, net average of 34.7 yards, long of 49 yards and landed four punts inside the 20-yard line including three inside the 10-yard line vs. Atl (1/3/09); one punt landed on the Falcons six-yard line but was moved back to the Atlanta three-yard line and on the next play DE Antonio Smith sacked QB Matt Ryan for a safety to put Arizona up 30-17 early in the fourth quarter ... played with a bad groin and landed three of five punts inside the 20-yard line including placing one out of bounds at the Eagles seven-yard line with nine seconds left in the game vs. Phi (1/18/09) ... landed three of five punts inside the 20-yard line including landing one at the Steelers two-yard line that would result in a safety on the following drive late in the fourth quarter vs. Pit (2/1/09); marked second time in this postseason that he landed a punt inside the opponents five-yard line that resulted in a safety on the ensuing possession.

2007:
As a member of the Jets, punted for a 43.3 yard gross average, 36.6 net average with 23 punts inside-the-20 yard line … registered three special teams tackles ... recorded six punts for a season-high 47.7-yard average with a season-long kick of 62 yards vs. Buf (10/28) … punted a season-high eight times for an average of 46.1 yards @ Dal (11/22) … had a season-high three punts land inside the 20-yard-line vs. KC (12/30) and also recorded two special teams tackles.

2006:
Punted for a 44.2-yard gross average and a 37.8 net average with 26 punts inside the 20-yard line for the Jets … also contributed one special teams tackle and served as Jets special teams co-captain … placed four kicks inside the 20 yard-line @ Buf (9/24) … punted three times for a 51.3 gross average and 51.0 net average while recording a career-long punt of 69 yards; all three punts landed inside the 20 yard-line @ Cle (10/29) … punted a season-high eight times pinning three kicks inside the 20 @ Mia (12/25) … pinned two of his three kicks inside the 20 yard-line in the Wild Card playoff game @ NE (1/6/07).

2005:
Punted 74 times for a 43.7-yard gross average, a 37.9 net average and placed 18 punts inside the 20-yard line in his first season with the Jets ... punted three times for a 44.3-yard net average in his NFL debut @ KC (9/11) … logged his first NFL tackle vs. Mia (9/18) … recorded a career-high nine punts @ Bal (10/2) … had a season-long 59-yard punt vs. NE (12/26).

Personal:
Full name Benjamin James Graham … attended the Ray Pelfrey Kicking School in Reno, NV, for two weeks to learn the American punting style and refine his technique after playing 12 seasons of Australian Rules Football ... attended Deakin University where he earned a bachelor of Commerce, concentrating in Marketing and Management ... business interests in Australia include property development, aged-care facilities and seaside restaurants ... was an Australia Day Ambassador in 2002-03 and is currently an Ambassador for the Great Ocean Road (a top-ranked tourist attraction, a road that hugs the coast of Victoria) ... member of the Muscle Dystrophy Association (MDA) Muscle Team since 2006 … along with his wife, Katie, the couple has two daughters, Sophie and Rosie, and one son, Jack.

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